Catechins Health Benefits – Why They Matter
Julian Tai
September 21, 2009
By now most of us have heard about some of the amazing health benefits of green tea. What is it that makes this drink so much healthier than any of the competition? The answer lies in catechins. Just what are these miraculous compounds, and how can we use them to improve our health?
Free Radicals
Free radicals are molecules that occur naturally in our bodies. They have the unusual trait of having only one electron – most molecules have two. These little guys will "steal", or bond to, electrons from other molecules, causing a chain reaction that leads to the creation of even more free radicals, and disrupting the cell in which they are all forming and dissolving their bonds.
This is where the damage occurs. As more and more free radicals are formed within a cell, the cell can sicken and eventually die. Exposure to toxins and pollution, so common in today´s world, creates millions of free radicals.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help "clean up" free radicals, reducing the damage they can do. They are able to give electrons to the free radicals, stabilizing them, without compromising their own stability.
Polyphenol catechins are antioxidants found primarily in the tea plant. There are four types: gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This last one, in particular, is thought to be one of the most beneficial antioxidants available.
Disease Prevention
Many studies have been done in order to determine just what their health benefits really are. As the data mounts, researchers are discovering that drinking green tea, which has more of these compounds than black tea, may have an enormous effect on our health.
Studies have shown that daily consumption of green tea reduces the risk of several types of cancer. It can also reduce the risk of diabetes. Lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar levels are the result of just a few cups a day. In addition, green tea has been proven to be a natural weight loss aid.
So Easy!
It turns out that the catechins in green tea are some of the most powerful antioxidants available. And they come in a great tasting, easy to prepare beverage! Just a few cups a day is enough to get all of these great benefits. What a simple way to increase your health!
Understand the difference between EGCG, catechins and polyphenols. Which is the best way to maximize green tea health benefits?
Want to know which is the best catechins extract to buy? This article reviews 10 popular green tea diet pills.
An insider's guide to green tea and gourmet tea information. This is the definitive site to visit with tonnes of great information on discovering your next great tea.
Free Radicals
Free radicals are molecules that occur naturally in our bodies. They have the unusual trait of having only one electron – most molecules have two. These little guys will "steal", or bond to, electrons from other molecules, causing a chain reaction that leads to the creation of even more free radicals, and disrupting the cell in which they are all forming and dissolving their bonds.
This is where the damage occurs. As more and more free radicals are formed within a cell, the cell can sicken and eventually die. Exposure to toxins and pollution, so common in today´s world, creates millions of free radicals.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants help "clean up" free radicals, reducing the damage they can do. They are able to give electrons to the free radicals, stabilizing them, without compromising their own stability.
Polyphenol catechins are antioxidants found primarily in the tea plant. There are four types: gallocatechin (GC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin (EC), and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). This last one, in particular, is thought to be one of the most beneficial antioxidants available.
Disease Prevention
Many studies have been done in order to determine just what their health benefits really are. As the data mounts, researchers are discovering that drinking green tea, which has more of these compounds than black tea, may have an enormous effect on our health.
Studies have shown that daily consumption of green tea reduces the risk of several types of cancer. It can also reduce the risk of diabetes. Lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, and lower blood sugar levels are the result of just a few cups a day. In addition, green tea has been proven to be a natural weight loss aid.
So Easy!
It turns out that the catechins in green tea are some of the most powerful antioxidants available. And they come in a great tasting, easy to prepare beverage! Just a few cups a day is enough to get all of these great benefits. What a simple way to increase your health!
Understand the difference between EGCG, catechins and polyphenols. Which is the best way to maximize green tea health benefits?
Want to know which is the best catechins extract to buy? This article reviews 10 popular green tea diet pills.
An insider's guide to green tea and gourmet tea information. This is the definitive site to visit with tonnes of great information on discovering your next great tea.
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